When we initially announced the Twitter Scholarship we announced a rather large prize and promoted it quite aggressively by…

• making a custom logo for it
• promoting it across hundreds of pages on our widely read site
• mentioning it on our blog
• pinging some of our contacts in the industry and emailed a few bloggers about it
• promoting it on Twitter
• and we even went as far as buying Google AdWords ads to help get the word out

…but none of it worked

I am not sure if it was bad timing, if the submission was too complex, or if students have become more jaded about scholarship offers due lots of fake scholarship offers advertised by affiliate marketers who are doing lead generation – who never actually send out scholarship money.

Each year we do award students with $10,000+ in scholarship program awards, and have done so for the past 4 years now. We were anticipating getting thousands to 10,000’s of entries for the Twitter Scholarship, but so far we have been underwhelmed by the quantity (and to a lesser degree, quality) of the submissions. We have therefore decided to adjust the Twitter scholarship awards to

• winner – $1,400
• first runner up – $140
• second runner up – $140

We will distribute the additional funds we had earmarked for this scholarship throughout the upcoming year by launching more new scholarships.

I am proud to announce our latest scholarship: the 140 Scholarship, which offers students the opportunity to win over $14,000 in Awards by submitting their application via a Tweet.

Full details are available on the official scholarship page.

Many times, when students begin researching scholarship opportunities, they are extremely disappointed to learn that many require an essay.

If you happened to be one of those students for whom writing just a letter is an enormously challenging prospect, this essay requirement is a non-starter. In other words, instead of considering the requirement, you skip over each and every scholarship application that expects you to write such a document.

We think no one should ever look past any scholarship opportunity. It goes without saying that free money is the best kind of money you can obtain so writing an essay is a very small task with a potentially large payoff.

Especially given the fact that as long as you progress in an appropriate manner towards earning your degree most scholarships are renewable for your entire four years.

Getting Help

The key for many students is to find some help with the essay process. In today’s internet age, it is important for students to realize that an enormous amount of help is available for students.

There are a number of web sites offering sound advice and helpful tips. Certain sites feature a focus on creating ideas, others on making your work more distinctive.

One free site, InternationalStudent.com, actually is an excellent, one-stop possibility for those seeking a particular scholarship. First if offers four distinct categories regarding types of essays, admissions, scholarships, etc. Most importantly it features a great, three-step break down of the essay process.

For many students, the most difficult aspect is coming up with an essay topic. Internationalstudent begins with an in-depth look at the process of brainstorming a list of topics.

Once you have constructed a potential list, the site coaches you through the process of winnowing that list to a single topic to pursue. All too often, this step is omitted on other sites but it actually represents one of the most critical and difficult aspects for students (certainly harder than brainstorming possible topics).

Lastly, the site walks a student through the process of turning that selected topic into a meaningful essay. It even provides a list of review questions to consider to ensure that the final document meets expectations.

We also like the site because it gives detailed explanations of the areas students should focus on during each step. The site even provides suggestions as to the amount of time students should spend on each of the three aspects.

While we like this particular site, there are many more worthy ones available. For other free options, simply do a Google search of “free essay advice.”

Essay Editing Help Also Available

While you may hate to write that essay, these documents are used by scholarship committees to narrow their choice. In the case of where there are limited funds, these essays are the determining factor as to who will receive the money.

In virtually all cases, the need of each student is real and significant. So to decide from among many qualified applicants, scholarship committees examine a student’s personal essay very carefully.

Therefore, once you have constructed your essay, you may want to have one of the fee per service sites or a teacher help you put some finishing touches on the document. Spending $50, $75 or even $100 can be well worth the money when scholarships are often in the four-figure range yearly and the five-figure range for the four-year period you are in school.

These essay services can help you polish your product. Their professionals can help make your document sing and eliminate any chance that you have grammatical or spelling errors. They can even make helpful suggestions as to how you might be able to improve the content of the essay.

Just remember, having experts assist you is acceptable. It is totally appropriate to work with essay-editing services as you pursue scholarship applications.

However, under no circumstances should a student pay to have someone else, a professional service or a fellow student, to write their essay for them. Placing your name on a document as if it is one you wrote when in fact you did not will put you in serious jeopardy regarding all forms of aid. Claiming something as yours when it is not can lead to serious discipline issues and may even result in a school terminating your student status.

Pursue those Scholarships!

Given the cost of college today, no student can afford to ignore any potential scholarship option. Ignoring a scholarship opportunity just because the application process requires an essay is something you simply cannot afford to do.

Moreover, students should realize that in some cases simply completing the process will result in a certain amount of money coming their way. The fact is, many students will not apply when an essay is required.

Therefore, these scholarships offer less competition in the long run. In addition, most scholarship committees really want to help students. In many cases everyone completing the application process receives careful consideration and at times even a small sum from a larger pool of dollars.

In this economy, applying for financial aid may be an admissions disadvantage.

Most families are surprised to see the page one question on the common application form that asks whether you will be seeking financial aid. Ultimately, the question means admissions committees are aware of your financial need as they review your application packet.

True, the question does not reveal how much aid you will need. But the fact that the question is asked and the answer is available to admissions officials, it would seem that those schools that tout themselves as need-blind just might not be so need-blind as they indicate.

Paying in Full

In late March, the New York Times reported on what may or may not be a changing college dynamic. In “Paying in Full as the Ticket into Colleges,” the Times notes that schools are in fact letting in more wealthy students despite claims they are need-blind.

According to the Times, schools are admitting more students from the waiting list and more transfer students. In addition, some colleges have accepted more international students and only those international students that can pay in full. In addition, there was the suggestion that some schools may be using zip codes or parental backgrounds to help assess a family’s ability to pay.

This should come as no surprise given the financial times. College endowments have followed the path of most families’ college savings plans; sharply downward.

This creates a double-edged sword for higher education. Many applicants are in greater need of financial aid at the very same time that schools have fewer funds available to allocate.

Subsequently, the result has placed an even greater importance on a student’s ability to pay. Simply stated, every full paying student provides additional funds for schools allowing them to then help other students.

And the more full-paying students a school has, the better the school is able to weather the economic downturn.

Not So Need-Blind

While few schools seem willing to admit it, the general consensus is that financial need is playing a more significant role in the selection process. That may not be welcome news for students but it is a fact that applicants must keep in mind.

So, if schools are not so need-blind, what should a student do? The answer is relatively simple.

If you have the funds for school, you may now apply to more selective schools with greater confidence that an acceptance can follow. The economy will not make up for a poor transcript, but in an increasingly competitive market, strong resumes combined with an indication that you will not require financial aid may mean a greater chance of being accepted at more selective colleges.

For those in need of funds, a little more time selecting schools may be necessary. Given that your need might play a role in being accepted, it is imperative that you carefully select your back-up schools based upon a realistic desire to attend those schools.

In theory, need-blind means that your application would be reviewed based on your credentials only. In practicality, it could mean your need would get in the way of your being accepted at the more selective colleges.

Therefore you might get passed over by your number one college choice despite your academic record. If your own state university is not one you truly want to use as a back up, then examine flagship campuses in other states for a school that would meet your academic needs.

When it comes to reducing college costs there are several factors that students can control.

Cutting Expenses

Students can consider living at home for a semester or two. They can consider a community college for their basic requirements for either their first semester, year or even their first two years.

Students can also consider a quality state school, generally a third to a half less than the cost of a private school. As with a community college, students can consider a year or two at a state school then transfer to a more selective school for their junior and senior years.

Another simple suggestion that students should carefully consider is to take one additional course per semester, regardless of the cost of the school they are attending. Doing so for five semesters will generally allow students the chance to complete their program in three and a half years.

Finishing just one semester early means a significant reduction in non-tuition costs, eliminating one semester of room and board and academic-related fees. Being able to take a semester off during the four-year period also gives students a chance to work full time to earn funds and thus reduce the amount of money that must be borrowed.

In fact, one of the more interesting ideas that has been thrown around of late is for schools to examine three-year degree options for students. Students should keep an eye open for such schools as finishing a full year early can really reduce the costs for students.

Negotiating College Costs

In addition, when it comes to the costs of college, Lauren Starkey, admissions expert for the Examiner, insists it is possible to negotiate the costs of college. While most of us tend to focus on the price which is indeed likely to be fixed, Starkey notes that students and their families should treat college like any other retail purchase.

In other words, prospective students should not simply accept the financial aid offer from the school without at least meeting with the aid officers to see if they just might be able to do better by you.

Those in Best Position to Negotiate

First off, it must be noted that one group of students is in the best bargaining position. Those who have a record of achievement, either in the classroom, in the athletic arena, or on stage, are in the best position to negotiate.

In addition, students accepted at more than one school also are in a better position. Students can compare aid packages then use those packages as a negotiating tool.

In fact, a decent aid offer from one school can be used as a bargaining chip with a second school that maybe did not come through with any aid. Used in a positive, non-threatening manner, you just might receive an aid offer from the second school after all.

Additional Aid Options

Once you have filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (the FAFSA), you will know what sum you are expected to pay for college. Here Starkey offers some solid advice.

“If school A costs $25,000 a year and FAFSA’s equation says you can afford $12,000, your need is $13,000 a year,” notes Starkey. She then goes on to relate a critical aspect of that need calculation.

While schools will expect you to carry some loans, “many schools don’t expect you to carry all of that in loans,” writes Starkey. “They have work-study programs, grants, and loans to help close that gap.”

One of the more interesting developments is that the more selective a school is, the greater chance a school will “meet 100 percent of a family’s need.” Here again, only students with strong credentials will be considered at these colleges, so high-achievers are the ones most likely to secure additional funds.

But the critical step, according to Starkey is not to simply accept the offer without first asking if the school can do any better. In other words, “you have to ask.”

Cost of College

The increase in college costs in recent years have led to enormous challenges for students and their families. Unless you are one of the very fortunate folks for which money is no object you need to give careful consideration to controlling college costs.

A college degree can be a ticket to a good job and a better future, but that is only true if you can earn that degree while minimizing the debt you take on.

Congrats to David Mauro for being awarded the Blogging Scholarship. David Cameron finished as the first runner up, and Thomas Peters is the second runner up.

A list of the finalists, along with their schools and blogs, is located here.

Here is a list of the 2008 Blogging Scholarship finalists. You can vote for the winner here.

David Malinowski, University of California at Berkeley, co-author of Found In Translation.

Brian Switek, Rutgers University, author of Laelaps.

Justin Higgins, The Ohio State University, co-author of Shots on the House.

Ross Taylor, University of Missouri, author of Rock M Nation.

Evans Boney, California Institute of Technology, author of Boneye.

Omar Hossino, Radford University, author of Abu Hatem.

Thomas Peters, Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, American Papist.

Justin Varner, Penn State, author of Justin Varner.

Kyle de Beausset, Harvard College, author of Citizen Orange.

Jennifer Lynn Jordan, NYU, author of Per Omnia Saecula.

Thursday Bram, University of Baltimore, author of Thursday Bram.

Shanan Glandz, Ithaca College, author of The Spectrum.

David Cameron, UNC-Greensboro, author of USS Mariner.

Gavin Rehkemper, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, co-author of The Quad Blog.

David Mauro, Colorado College, author of Burnt Orange Report.

Evan Lisull, The University of Arizona, author of Desert Lamp.

Jonathan Dingel, Columbia University, author of Trade Diversion.

Pamela Aghababian, Simmons College, author of Cave Cibum.

Michael Snively, MIT, co-author of MIT Admissions.

Danielle Lee, University of Missouri – St. Louis, author of Urban Science.

This past weekend we were looking through some of the entries to pick the finalists for the blogging scholarship, and we are a bit behind schedule…this year there were over 5X the number of submissions as last year, and it is hard to pick a small set of finalists from such a large list. We made a lot of progress today though, and are looking to announce the finalists on the morning of the 6th. Sorry about the inconvenience!

We are now accepting submissions for the blogging scholarship, and the submission deadline is October 30th, 2008. One lucky blogger will be eligible for the $10,000 grand prize.

Our panel of judges will decide on 10 finalists and public voting will be enabled the morning of November 3rd. Voting will be closed on November 17th 2008. During this time, check our blog for announcements, updates, finalists, and voting information.